ACS Chapter SmartSite™ Program
As announced at the Chapter Officers and Young Surgeons Leadership Conference in May, the American College of Surgeons (ACS) is offering an application to assist Chapters in developing and maintaining their own websites. The SmartSite™ Professional Web Builder system is now available to ACS Chapters through Telusys, Inc., the College's Internet service developer.
The SmartSite system enables a chapter webmaster to develop a website in a shorter amount of time because it does not require the use of hypertext markup language (HTML). Once content has been developed in a word processing format, the user simply cuts and pastes text and inserts the information into designated data fields for quick display on the World Wide Web. Graphics and images—including digital photos—can also be uploaded for display on a Web page through the SmartSite system.
Chapters that have been struggling with developing or maintaining their Chapter websites due to a lack of resources—such as time and Web development expertise—are excellent candidates for going online with the SmartSite system. SmartSite is best suited for websites that do not contain a large amount of content and are not interactive in nature.
Please note: SmartSite is an option. Chapters that have already developed websites under the current ACS Chapter Website Program do not have to switch to the SmartSite system if they wish to keep their current arrangement and fee structure. Chapters that would like to transfer to the SmartSite program are welcome to do so at any time after August 9. Chapters that have demonstrated financial need may be eligible for financial assistance from the College for the payment of transfer fees only. For further information contact, Rhonda Peebles, Chapter Services Manager, at ACS headquarters at 888-857-7545, rpeebles@facs.org.
A list of SmartSite features, including prices, is available, along with an enrollment form. If you have any questions regarding specific features of the SmartSite program before you enroll, feel free to contact Ms. Cherre Neitzka, Telusys, Inc., E-Mail: cln@telusys.net, Phone: 630-833-5300. If you have any general questions on website development, including content considerations, please contact me in the College's Office of Public Information, 312-202-5409; E-Mail: sgarneski@facs.org.
June 8, 2007